Voyager (band)

Voyager were an English pop-rock band, formed initially in Newbury, Berkshire, as 'The Paul French Connection' by Paul French (vocals, keyboards), Paul Hirsh (keyboards, guitar), Chris Hook (bass guitar), and former member of Mr Big, John Marter (drums). Although they initially saw themselves as a progressive rock group, they had to tailor their style to a more commercial mood, as evidenced by their debut single, "Halfway Hotel". It was their only hit, reaching No. 33 in the UK Singles Chart in 1979,cite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages= p. 588
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5] and duly becoming the title track of their first album.

A second album "Act of Love" (1980) yielded a turntable hit (heavily played on music radio without ever entering the charts), plus "Sing Out (Love Is Easy)". Part of the instrumental section of the single was used for some time thereafter as background music for the chart rundown on BBC Radio 1 each week.

A third and final album, "Voyager", followed the next year, but without further chart success they disbanded. A compilation, "Travels in Time - The Best of the Early Years", was issued on CD in 2004.

Marter later joined Marillion, then Alaska, and since 1994 has played on and off with the SAS Band [http://wm02.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3ifexqqgldje~T4] , a loose conglomeration of musicians and singers led by Spike Edney, former keyboard player on stage with Queen. He and Hook have also worked with The Purple Project, a Deep Purple tribute band as well as the YES tribute act AWAKEN, while Hook also plays with semi-pro outfit Bluefish. Hirsh temporarily joined Status Quo for live performances in 2000, whilst their regular keyboard player and guitarist Andy Bown took a break for personal reasons. French went on to compose classical pieces premiered at the Wigmore Hall by Endymion Ensemble, and composed production music in various styles for Chappell Music Library.

More recently Voyager reunited to record another album, entitled "Eyecontact". However, their lack of further chart success leave them labeled as one-hit wonders.

Album discography

*"Halfway Hotel" - (1979) - Mountain UK, Elektra US
*"Act of Love" - (1980) - Mountain UK, RCA US
*"Voyager" - (1981) - RCA
*"Element IV" - (2004) - DVS
*"Travels in Time - The Best of the Early Years" - (2004)
*"Eyecontact" - (2006) - Leadhead Records [http://wm02.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fpfoxql5ldje~T20]

ee also

*One-hit wonders in the UK
*List of performers on Top of the Pops

References